William J. Fulton

William John Fulton[1] (January 14, 1875 – March 24, 1961) was a Canadian-born American jurist. He became an Illinois lawyer and judge, serving as city attorney for Sycamore, Illinois, a circuit court judge for DeKalb County, Illinois, appeallate judge on the Illinois Court of Appeals, justice of the Illinois Supreme Court and Chief Judge of that court.

William J. Fulton
Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court
In office 1944–1945
Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court
In office 1942–1953
Preceded by	Elwyn Riley Shaw
Succeeded by	Ray Klingbiel
Judge of the Illinois Court of Appeals
In office 1943–1930
Circuit Court Judge for DeKalb County, Illinois
In office 1923–1930
Personal details
Born	(1875-01-14)January 14, 1875 Lynedoch, Ontario, Canada March 24, 1961(1961-03-24) (aged 86)
Died	Sycamore, Illinois
Education	University of Illinois (B.S.) University of Illinois (JD)

Born in Lynedoch, Ontario, Canada, Fulton emigrated with his parents to the United States in 1880 and settled in Illinois. Fulton went to school in Waterman, Illinois and Hartford City, Indiana. He then received his bachelor's degree and law degree from the University of Illinois.

Admitted to the Illinois bar in 1901, Fulton practiced law in Sycamore, Illinois. He served as city attorney for Sycamore, Illinois and as master in chancery for DeKalb County, Illinois. In 1923, Fulton was elected a circuit court judge for the 16th circuit (DeKalb County). In 1930, he was elected an appellate judge from the 4th District of the Illinois Court of Appeals (later from the 3rd District). From 1942 until 1954, Fulton served on the Illinois Supreme Court, and was briefly chief justice of the court (1944-1945). Although re-elected in 1951, Justice Fulton retired in 1953. He died in a hospital in Sycamore, Illinois in 1961.[2][3]